A while ago,
Ruby’s Dad sent home three jars of the most wonderful pickle and a few days later, at a kid pick-up, my Mr went and introduced himself as Ruby’s Dad’s New Best Friend. Not long after, Ruby’s Dad hatched a plan for a Pickle-Off. A plot in two parts: Part One involves all-in pickling at their house, Part Two is all about tomato chutney at ours.
After a busy Saturday, I can tell you that Part One was just what the doctor ordered for Sunday. It was a cruisy, relaxed, in-fabulous-company afternoon, involving this:

this:

this:

this:

(would you like to see those stunning, dried-on-racks-in-the-homemade-drying-machine limes again?)
this:

and a bit of this:

(because to be honest, the two dads were the ones critically involved in pickle-craft action. The rest of us were a bit involved in trampoline bouncing, or frog collection, or games of toddler chasey or whatnot):
And voila! An enviable stash of four varieties of tasty, pickle-y delicious:

Then we all ate curry for dinner, of course. A Sunday made up of all kinds of YUM.
....................
OTHER THINGS
OneAs predicted, the visits from friends of the bloggy persuasion and otherwise were the nicest highlights of the
market on Saturday. As were the chats with market neighbours. As was hanging out with the Mr: much, much nicer to do a market with someone tall, dark, handsome (and generally excellent) with bonus muscles for carrying stuff. I’m back in Daylesford for the
Christmas market on the 27th. If the Mr isn’t able to make it, I’ll attempt to convince my generally excellent mum to do tall, dark and handsome (with bonus muscles for carrying stuff).
TwoMuch excitement chez Myrtle and Eunice this fine morn. Against all odds, my thumb appears to have turned the faintest shade of green with the sprouting of the teensiest zinnia-let (I’m entirely positive this is not a weed-let). Of the twenty planted loo rolls, this is the first to sprout it’s head above the parapet. The Middle saw what I was applauding and let out an emphatic – a
really emphatic,
(like with exclamation marks) AWESOME!! I’m thinking I could do with less ‘exclaim’ and more horticultural respect.

Naturally I shall be torturing all and sundry with blow-by-blow
zinnia progress. Blame
Susie.ThreeYesterday was Grandad’s birthday and with bleary, post-market, late-to-bed-early-to-rise-eyes, I crafted an
X Marks the Spot magnetic bookmark for the birthdaying bookworm. Not only have I mastered whole minutes of knitting-without-looking, apparently I can also stitch-while-snoozing.
FourJust because I can and just because I’d be amazed if anyone reached the end of this waffley post at all, the first person to nut out and EMAIL me (myrtleandeunice@gmail.com) with the correct title of that book above, wins a brown paper package tied up with string, filled with a few of my favourite things.
(top tip: click on the image to spot the clues).FiveSame goes for anyone with an Extraordinary Fact About Anything up their sleeves. Leave a COMMENT containing said Extraordinary Fact About Anything and the Middle Kid will choose a winner tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. May I assure you, the judging process will occur with great and earnest diligence.
(top tip: the judging kid is heartily taken with creatures of any description and knows quite some Extraordinary Facts About Anything. Best not hold back).EDIT: VERI MAZ WAS THE FIRST TO CORRECTLY GUESS THE JUNGLE BOOK! IF YOU’RE STILL IN THE MARKET FOR A BROWN PAPER PACKAGE TIED UP WITH STRING, FILLED WITH A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS, THEN COMMENT WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY FACT ABOUT ANYTHING. PS. Tres impressed at how literary lots of you are. Next time, I’m going to make it much, much trickier...